Canadian Forest rij Journal. Mai/. I!) IS 1683 



The Fire Fighter's Profession 



By E. T. Allen 

 Manager, Western Forestry and Conservation Association 



The modern forest officer, whether ranger or firewarden, is accorded great 

 respect and responsibility because of his highly trained and specialized public 

 service. Few men except naval and aviation officers, who also must combine 

 practical experience with technical knowledge and trained intelligence, are 

 expected to be so proficient with hand and mind alike. Out of a service which 

 a few years ago was not even skilled labor, and was assigned to any inhabitant 

 of a forest region, has developed a profession of forest fire prevention which 

 requires all the abilities of a thorough woodsman, knowledge of many en- 

 gineering sciences, successful command of men, and a talent for law enforce- 

 ment and enlisting public co-operation. 



This new profession has been able to develop largely because improved 

 organization of private and public fire forces has created both rivalry and co- 

 operation among those with joint problems to solve. It has been' stimulated 

 by Ihe veiy fascination to an active and inventive class of men of its ever- 

 widening field, challenging them to devise new methods and equipment and 

 to keep abreast of invention in other fields in order that such may be seized 

 and adapted. Telephony, heliography, meteorology, aviation, topography, 

 range-finding — these are but some of the sciences which have been made part 

 of methods for detecting and controlling forest fires, to say nothing of the 

 mechanical perfection of equipment and the systematizing of feeding, trans- 

 porting and handling men under the most adverse circumstances. To 

 edi:cate the public into greater care with fire, new trails have been blazed into 

 the fields of psychology and publicity. The technique of forest legislation and 

 the processes of enforcement is an essential knowledge. Finally, there is the 

 actual fighting of fire, never the same, defying all rules, profiting by all pre- 

 vious experience but calling always for new and decisive reasoning. 



Ranger Specialists 



The most rapid development of fire prevention knowledge will be obtained 

 by the engaging of each officer in specialized study of the subjects which 

 interest him most, and his contribution of the results to his colleagues at 

 meetings and in reports. But the development of maximum efficiency in 

 actual field application requires that every officer study the progress along all 

 lines. As the successful surgeon or engineer keeps abreast of everything done 

 in his profession, from time to time adding his bit, so does the successful forest 

 officer. It is this spirit which advances the profession in value and pubhc 

 estimation, thereby insuring its support, and which increases the opportunity 

 of each individual member to gain reputation and financial return. 



Relation to Public 



Much has been said of the proper relation of the forest officer to the 

 public. As a rule greatest stress is laid on his personal relations. He is en- 

 joined to be tactful and helpful; to educate his neighbors in the importance 

 of forest protection to every citizen, to reduce fire hazard so as to have fewer 

 fires to fight, to teach compliance with law so punishment will be unnecessary, 

 to be popular in order to win voluntary co-operation. All of which is so well 

 recognized nowadays as important that few if any forest ofYicers need it re- 

 peated to them. None know it better than they do. Fnough is seldom said, 

 however, of the assistance in gaining such community influence which lies in 

 making the job stand for the professional competence described in the fore- 

 going pages. 



People respect, and usually admire, a man who has authority because he 

 understands a difficult subject. No matter how superior the passenger may 



